We're having a son. Circumcise or not?

Jul 5, 2012

BENJAMIN, CARY, NC asked:

We're having a son. Circumcise or not?

Answer:

The evidence continues to grow that less foreskin may indeed be better. Most recently, a study in the journal Cancer linked early circumcision to a 15 percent lower risk of prostate cancer. Researchers believe that inflammation associated with STDs is a key factor in some cases of prostate cancer, and circumcision eliminates a space that can serve as a protective environment for bacteria and other agents that can cause those diseases, says study author Jonathan Wright, M.D. Previous research has shown that circumcision can also reduce risks of HPV, HIV, and penile cancer and can decrease the risk of HPV transmission to partners. Despite all this evidence, infant circumcision rates dropped from 63 percent in 1998 to 56 percent in 2008, according to the National Hospital Discharge Survey. One reason: The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't take a firm stance. It recognizes the benefits but doesn't recommend routine circumcision of newborn boys because of the personal or religious nature of the decision. The evidence is for it, but evidence isn't everything. If you do opt for circumcision, a word of advice: Do the little guy a favor and demand local anesthesia.

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